ARL Education and Outreach

Cultivating the Next Generation STEM Talent Pool

The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Education and Outreach Program is designed to support the Lab's efforts to build the highly talented, innovative and diverse workforce necessary to meet the Army's future needs. ARL leverages several Army/DoD programs to provide opportunities for students of various grades and academic levels; graduates and faculty members.

The Army Research Laboratory is committed to providing opportunities for K-12 students to engage in science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM) activities. These activities and programs are designed to inspire and excite students, and motivate them to pursue STEM higher education and eventual STEM career pathways.

The Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP)

AEOP is managed through a youth science cooperative agreement with Battelle Memorial Institute. Through AEOP, the Army continues its long tradition and strong commitment to the advancement of STEM education and literacy. Leveraging its most valuable assets - world-class scientists and engineers and research facilities - AEOP offers our nation's youth and teachers a collaborative, cohesive portfolio of opportunities that effectively engage future workforce generations in meaningful, real-world STEM experiences, competitions and paid internships. Visit http://www.usaeop.com for detailed information on all Army sponsored STEM enrichment activities, national competitions, apprenticeships and DOD scholarship and award programs.

AEOP Programs offered through ARL

Gains in the Education of and Mathematics and Science (GEMS)
GEMS is a program that immerses middle and high school students in multi-disciplinary, age appropriate hands-on activities, led by Army scientists, engineers and Soldiers. ARL sponsors several GEMS programs each summer at three geographic locations: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, Adelphi Laboratory Center, MD and White Sands Missile Range, NM. Students who successfully participate in GEMS qualify for an educational stipend.Duration:
Primarily one week sessions from June through August only.Requirements:
Students must apply via http://www.usaeop.com/programs/stem-enrichment-activities/gems/

GEMS Near Peer Mentors (NPM)Brief Description: High school and college students from all STEM fields and education-related majors, are hired to help develop, explain and execute teaching modules in the GEMS program. They are selected for their technical experience, attitude and teaching skills and are responsible to act as role models for GEMS students, promote interest in pursuing higher level science and math classes, and act as resources concerning college life and career pathways. NPMs receive stipends of varying amounts depending on experience, prior research and academic grade.Duration:
One or more weeks from June through August only.Requirements:
Students must apply via http://www.usaeop.com/programs/stem-enrichment-activities/gems/
Students must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old to qualify for SEAP.
Students are responsible for providing their own transportation and housing.

Science and Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP)
SEAP matches talented high school students with scientists and engineers in a direct mentor-student relationship that provides students with "hands-on" experience in a professional research setting. At the end of the apprenticeship, students prepare and present final reports based on their experience. SEAP students who successfully complete their apprenticeship are awarded an education stipend.Duration:
8-10 weeks during June through August onlyRequirements:
Students must apply via http://www.usaeop.com/programs/apprenticeships/seap/
Students must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old to qualify for SEAP.
Students are responsible for their own transportation and housing.

High School Apprenticeship Program (HSAP)
HSAP provides rising high school juniors and seniors with a science and engineering research experience alongside university researchers sponsored by the Army Research Office (ARO). The program provides the mechanism to expose new students to research opportunities in the sponsored lab. This commuter program provides a stipend and the student is required to produce an abstract documenting the research they performed during the apprenticeship. Duration:
Students may work up to 300 hours total during June through August only.Requirements:
Students must apply via http://www.usaeop.com/programs/apprenticeships/hsap/
Students must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old to qualify for HSAP.
Students are responsible for their own transportation and housing.

Junior Solar Sprint Regional Competition (JSS)
JSS is an educational program for 5th through 8th grade students with the goal of creating the fastest, most interesting and best crafted solar-vehicle possible. Using engineering skills and principles of science and math, students in teams of 2-3 each, work together to design, build and race their solar powered cars. ARL hosts a Regional JSS Competition annually in April at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. The winning team receives a paid berth to compete in the National JSS Competition as well as paid travel and lodging expenses.Requirements:
Students, Coaches and Volunteers must apply via http://www.usaeop.com/programs/competitions/jss/
Students must adhere to the design, construction and display rules defined on the website in order to qualify.

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is committed to inspiring, developing and recruiting undergraduate and graduate students by providing internship opportunities that enhance their traditional college experience. Students have the opportunity to work along side ARL scientists and engineers performing cutting edge Army research, within state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.

The Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP)

AEOP is managed through a youth science cooperative agreement with Battelle Memorial Institute. Through AEOP, the Army continues its long tradition and strong commitment to the advancement of STEM education and literacy. Leveraging its most valuable assets - world-class scientists and engineers and research facilities - AEOP offers our nation's youth and teachers a collaborative, cohesive portfolio of opportunities that effectively engage future workforce generations in meaningful, real-world STEM experiences, competitions and paid internships. Visit http://www.usaeop.com for detailed information on all Army sponsored STEM enrichment activities, national competitions, apprenticeships and DOD scholarship and award programs.

AEOP Programs offered through ARL

College Qualified Leaders (CQL)
ARL matches talented undergraduate students with scientists and engineers in a direct mentor-student relationship, that provides the student with training, firsthand research experience and exposure to DoD laboratories that is unparalleled at most colleges. The program's goal is to enhance the participants' formal learning experience and foster the desire to pursue higher education and training in STEM. Selected participants receive a stipend based on education and experience.Duration:
Available year round; primarily designed for greater than six month work study-internships however, summer internships are also available. Requirements:
Students must apply via http://www.usaeop.com/programs/apprenticeships/cql/
Students must be enrolled as an undergraduate or be a recent graduate (within the past 6 months) in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) major
Students must be U.S. citizens and are responsible for their own transportation and housing.

Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP)
URAP is a commuter program that provides undergraduate students with an authentic science and engineering
research experience alongside university researchers sponsored by the Army Research Office (ARO). Students develop
skills in Army critical science and engineering research areas in a university lab setting. At the end of the
apprenticeship, students will prepare abstracts documenting the research they performed. Students will receive an
education stipend while participating.Duration:
Students may work up to 300 hours total from June through August only.Requirements:
Students must apply via http://www.usaeop.com/programs/apprenticeships/urap/
Students with recent prior affiliation with a specific laboratory may not be eligible to participate. (Prior affiliation includes direct employment, past compensated research (e.g. REU, other funded research, or research for course credit).

DoD Programs offered through ARL

Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART)
SMART is a Scholarship for Service Program that provides the opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion. SMART is offered throughout Army, Air Force, Navy and other DOD sponsoring facilities spanning multiple states. Students pursuing degrees in approximately 19 STEM disciplines may apply. ARL is one of more than 50 participating Army Sponsoring Facilities.

Full tuition and education related fees (housing and meal plans not included) Stipend paid at a rate of $25K - $38K depending on degree pursuing. Health insurance allowance up to $1.2K per calendar year and miscellaneous supplies allowance of $1K per academic year.Duration:
Student participates in mentored summer research internships through completion of degree; employment placement after graduationRequirements:
Students must apply via: http://smart.asee.org
Students must be a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom at time of application
Students must be 18 years of age or older as of August 1 of the application year.
Students will participate in summer internships at DoD laboratories and accept post-grad employment with the DoD
Students need minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of award and must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the disciplines listed on the About SMART page.

ARL Programs

University Career Experience Program (UCEP)
UCEP is non-residential summer enrichment program for college students in Science, Technology, Engineering, or
Mathematics (STEM) related disciplines. Program preference is given to students from underrepresented and underserved groups. Participants have the opportunity to explore careers in their field of study; while working alongside ARL researchers.
At the end of the experience, students prepare and present technical posters based on their research experience.
USCEP students are placed in all ARL laboratories. Students who successfully participate in the program qualify
for an educational stipend; the amount is based on academic achievement and laboratory/research experience.Duration:
Program runs 10 weeks during June through August. Students work 40 hours per week.Requirements:
Students must apply via: http://arlinternshipprograms.com/applyuni/new_applicant.html
Students must be U.S. citizens and are responsible for their own transportation and housing.
Students must be enrolled in a STEM related degree program and maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

The objective of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory's (ARL's) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) program is to address the projected shortfall of scientists and engineers among the diverse populations of the 21st century, leverage HBCU/MI technical capabilities to fulfill ARL requirements, and expand the involvement of HBCU/MIs in ongoing research at ARL.

DoD HBCU/MI Programs offered through ARL

HBCU/MI Student Internship
The HBCU/MI Student Internship provides students with a unique developmental experience to broaden the students' perspectives and provide them with practical advanced education related to their academic fields. Students are afforded the opportunity to work side by side with Army
scientists and engineers in state of-the-art research facilities while observing and implementing concepts from their course work to perform advanced research that contributes to the world around them.Duration:
Program runs 10 weeks during June through August. Students work 40 hours per week.Requirements:
Students must apply via: https://tmcf.org/our-programs/career-preparation/internships
Students must be U.S. citizens.
Students must be enrolled in a STEM related degree program and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

HBCU/MI Faculty Fellowship Program
The Faculty Fellowship Program provides summer placement opportunities to HBCU/MI faculty in one of the Army labs to conduct joint research projects with Army laboratory scientists. The primary goal is to help build in-house research capacity by exposing faculty to cutting-edge scientific work that they can take back to their campus to improve curriculum, research products, and student outcomes.Duration:
Program runs 10 weeks during June through August. Faculty work 40 hours per week.Requirements:
Applicants must apply via: https://tmcf.org/our-capacity-building/grants/u-s-army-research-laboratory-army-research-office-faculty-fellowship
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or Permeant Residents.
Applicants must have a degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field.
The proposed research topic must be aligned with the needs of a defense-related project.

Faculty Fellow Research Team Program
The Faculty Fellow Research Team Program (FFRTP), funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and hosted at U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Research Laboratories, provides faculty-student teams the opportunity to explore new technologies in research and in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career fields. The program provides enrichment and development opportunities for faculty and students to pioneer discoveries together while employing and practicing skills obtained in their classrooms. The program strives to enhance HBCU/MI research programs through faculty development and student mentoring with the goal of building a more inclusive pool of scientist and engineers to meet the growing scientific needs of our nation.
Research teams who are selected and successfully participate in the program qualify for an educational stipend, pre-program visit, round trip travel to the hosted DoD laboratory for fellowship, and lodging. Faculty stipends are dependent on academic rank and academic accomplishments. Students' stipends are based on academic achievement and laboratory/research experience.Duration:
10 week residential fellowship program.Requirements:
Applicants must apply via: http://arlinternshipprograms.com/applyfac/apply.html
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent legal residents.
Faculty applicants must have a degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field.
Student applicants must be enrolled in a STEM related degree program and maintained a minimum of a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
The proposed research topic must be aligned with the needs of a defense-related project.

ARL Fellowship Program

The ARL Fellowship Programs prepare science and engineering researchers for the future. Fellowship recipients are able to advance at a top research facility through meaningful science education and research experiences while contributing to the important mission of the Laboratory. Depending on the type of Fellowship and the needs of a specific Fellow, ARL can offer a stipend, health insurance stipend supplement, relocation allowance and travel allowance. Fellowships are provided at all ARL geographic locations and are made available to both U.S. non-U.S. citizens.

ARL is committed to providing a Fellowship program that maintains a constant influx of new ideas and fresh perspectives that help to keep ARL on the leading edge of science and technology. ARL brings in recent Ph.Ds or Sc.Ds and select undergraduates to conduct high impact
basic and applied research under the guidance of an ARL advisor.

ARL Fellowships are managed through two cooperative agreements:

Oakridge Associated Universities (ORAU)

Postdoctoral Fellow - less than 5 years post PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow - less than 5 years post PhD

Senior Fellow - more than 5 years post PhD

Short Term Fellow - a Postdoc or Senior Fellow at ARL for up to 20 wks

Duration:
The program operates year round to provide the Directorates maximum flexibility and ranges from number of weeks to a year. Renewal option is available for most Fellows up to a maximum of three years.

DoD Fellowship Program

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship
NDSEG is a highly competitive, portable fellowship that is awarded to U.S. citizens and nationals who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in one of fifteen supported disciplines. NDSEG confers high honors upon its recipients, and allows them to attend whichever U.S. institution they choose. The NDSEG Fellowship is sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Office of Naval Research (ONR), under the direction of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering). Participants receive full tuition and all mandatory fees, a monthly stipend and up to $1K in medical insurance.Duration: Three yearsRequirements:
Students apply via: http://ndseg.asee.org
Students must have demonstrated the ability and special aptitude for advanced training in science and engineering
Fellowships are awarded to applicants who will pursue a doctoral degree in, or closely related to, an area of DoD interest within one fifteen STEM disciplines

Institutional Advancement Program

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is committed to exploiting research opportunities with
university and industry partners through Education Partnership Agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements and Cooperative Agreements.

Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA):
ARL supports the establishment and implementation of activities and programs that stimulate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Additionally, ARL encourages students to select and continue their education in the fields of STEM to increase the technical talent base available to ARL research and development efforts.
The purpose of EPAs is to encourage and enhance education and research opportunities in STEM disciplines relevant to ARL science and technology programs. Foreign nationals are eligible to participate in ARL EPAs.Duration:
The opportunity is available year round under an active EPA to provide ARL maximum flexibility.Requirements:
EPAs are authorized under the following statutes:

10 U.S.C. Section 2194 (which authorizes the Directors of Defense laboratories to enter into educational partnership agreements to encourage and enhance study in scientific disciplines, and ensure that priorities for the establishment of education agreements are given in accordance with 10 U.S.C. Section 2194(c) and (d);

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA):
A written agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties under which the government, through its laboratories, provides personnel, facilities, equipment or other resources with or without reimbursement (but not funds to non-federal parties). The opportunity is available for Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's, PhD participants and faculty up to expiration date of the CRADA. ARL has active CRADAs in place with hundreds of universities and industry partners.Duration:
The opportunity is available year round under an active CRADA to provide ARL maximum flexibility and ranges from a number of weeks to a year. Requirements:
The non-federal parties provide personnel, funds, services, facilities, equipment or other resources to conduct specific research or development efforts that are consistent with the mission of the laboratory.
The partner organization (not ARL) pays for salary and living expenses during an internship.
ARL provides office space and access to facilities.

Cooperative Agreement (CA):
A legal instrument that is used to support and stimulate the advancement of science and technology through cooperation with external partners. Under a CA, substantial involvement is expected between the ARL and the partner when carrying out collaborative research. CAs are used when the parties wish to work together on the same project, sharing each party's expertise, staff, facilities and equipment. ARL has hundreds of active CAs in place with universities and industry partners.Duration:
The opportunity is available year round under an active CA to provide the campaigns maximum flexibility and ranges from a number of weeks to a year. Opportunity is available for Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's, PhD participants and faculty up to expiration date of the CA. Requirements:
The partner organization (not ARL) pays for salary and living expenses for an internship.
ARL provides office space and access to facilities.
Funds may be passed from ARL to the partner, but the partner may not provide funds to ARL.